Traverse rod and slide



Nov. 12, 1957 J. N. GRABER 2,812,534

TRAVERSE ROD AND SLIDE Original Filed July 15, 1949 INVENTOR JOHNN-GRABER ATTORNEYS TRAVERSE ROD SLIDE John N. Graber, Middleton, Wis.,assignor to Graber Manufacturing Company, Inc., Middleton, Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin Original application July 15, 1949, Serial No.104,927, now Patent No. 2,653,344, dated September 29, 1953. Divided andthis application August 21, 1953, Serial No. 375,656

1 Claim. (Cl. 16-87.4)

This invention appertains to drapery rods and drapery supporting slides,and is a division of my application Ser. No. 104,927 filed July 15,1949, now Patent No. 2,653,344, dated September 29, 1953.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a traverserod and slides for drapery of a novel construction and shape, wherebythe drapery can be opened or closed with a minimum amount of frictionbetween the rod and slides and with an easy gliding action and withoutany objectionable metallic noise.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a drapery rod ofa substantially U-shape in cross-section embodying a rear wall adaptedto be attached to a desired support (see my patent) and a spaced frontwall having an upper ofi'set flange for carrying the slides and forspacing the major portion of the slides from the drapery rod toeliminate friction.

A further important object of my invention is to pro vide a draperycarrying slide formed from a thermoplastic material for easy slidingengagement with the rod embodying a depending straight body portionhaving a hooked upper end for engaging over the offset flange of the rodand an inwardly directed tongue or finger disposed below the rod andadapted to engage the lower surface of the rod to prevent undue tiltingof the slide on the rod.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a drapery slide fortraverse rods of the above character having an opening therein below theinwardly directed tongue or finger for receiving drapery engaging pins.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described and claimed, .and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which drawing,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing my novel traverse rodwith one of my slides or travelers suspended therefrom.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure1, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the slide or travelertaken on the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of thearrows.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing a slightly modifiedform of slide.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter Dgenerally indicates the novel drapery rod and S one of my novel slidesor travelers associated therewith.

The drapery rod D can be formed in any desired way, such as by extrusionor rolling and from any desired material such as aluminum, finished inany preferred way to produce an attractive appearance and to harmonizewith the woodwork and color scheme of a room. The rod is of asubstantially U-shape in cross-section and includes a rear wall 5, aspaced parallel front wall 6 ited States Patent and a bottom arcuateconnecting wall 7. It is to be noted that the front wall 6 extends abovethe rear wall 5 and is provided with an upstanding offset flange 8. Thisflange 8 not only gives an ornamental appearance to the rod, but alsoserves another specific purpose, which will be later set out.

The rear wall 5 has formed on its upper edge an inwardly directedhorizontal flange 9 which aids in supporting the rod in suitablebrackets, as set forth in my pending application.

While I have only shown one slide or traveler, it is to be understoodthat a plurality of slides are mounted on the rod and that these slidesoperate in'conjunction with master slides, not shown.

Each slide S is preferably formed from a clear thermoplastic or otherdesired material that will slide easily along the rod without noise.While I have stated that these slides are formed from clear plastic,obviously, the came can be formed from any desired, colored plastic. Asillustrated, each slide S includes an upright body plate 10 having abent back hook 11 for engaging over the offset flange 8 of the rod D.The plate 10 adjacent to its lower end, but spaced therefrom, isprovided with an inwardly directed right angularly disposed tongue orlip 12, and the extreme lower end of the plate below the tongue 12 isprovided with an aperture 13 for receiving a drapery supporting pin 14.

It is to be particularly noted that the offset flange 8 spaces the majorportion of the slide S from the rod and this eliminates friction to agreat extent and permits the easy working of these slides.

The tongue 12 extends inwardly below the lower wall 7 of the rod andlimits the tilting of the slide on the rod. It should be readilyapparent particularly fromFigures 2 and 4 of the drawing that when theslide moves inwardly toward the rod, the tongue 12 will be positionedunder wall 7 and thus prevent the upward movement of the slide resultingin keeping the slide from completely tilting off of the rod. The pins 14can be of a type cornmonly found on the open market but are preferablyof the character shown in the drawing. Each pin 14 includes a coiledbight portion 15, and upwardly extending pointed shank 16 and adepending leg 17 having a bent up pointed book 18. In practice, thepointed shank 16 can be inserted through the hem at the top of thedrapery, with the pointed hook inserted in the hem below the shank 16.With this particular type of pin, the head of the drapery will be heldstraight and against drooping.

While I prefer to make the slide out of all plastic ma terial, the samecan take different forms and in Figure 4, I have shown one additionalform of my slide. In this form, I provide a metal body portion 19 havingformed on its upper end the bent back hook 20. The body portion hasstruck out therefrom adjacent to its lower end an inwardly directed ear21. The opening left by striking out the car can receive the coiledbight portion 15 of the pin 14. The metal body 19 receives an innerliner 22 formed from plastic material and this liner engages the rod toreduce friction and to eliminate any metallic sound. The liner 22conforms to the shape of the metal body 19 and hence the upper end ofthe liner has formed thereon a hook 23 which engages directly over theoffset flange 11 of the rod D. The lower end of the liner has formedthereon the right angularly extending leg 24 which rests on the car 21and this leg extends under the drapery rod D.

Various changes in details may be made without de parting from thespirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

In a drapery installation, a drapery rod including a front wall, a rearwall and a connecting wall, said rod being U-shaped in cross section andhaving an off-set fiange on the upper edge of said front wallterminating above said rear. Wall and being offset outwardly and awayfrom said rear wall, and a drapery supporting slide movable, over saidfront wall including a straight body portion, an inwardly directed hookon the upper end of said straight body portion engaging over the frontwall, an inwardly directed leg on said straight portion disposed belowthe rod adjacent and below said connecting wall, and a pin receiving earon the straight portion below said leg, said slide being formed fromanti-friction material and a different material from said rod whereby toinsure easy and noiseless movement of the slide over said rod, saidinwardly directed leg of the slide and said connecting wall of the rodcooperating to prevent the upward movement of the slide olf the trackupon undue tilting of the slide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

